Young Adult Services in Public Libraries

YA Services Available

Reader’s Advisory – YA librarians are able to provide YAs with reading suggestions. They will do this on an individual basis at the reference desk and in the form of booktalks held either in classrooms or at the library itself. Most YA Departments also sponsor a reading club for YAs to get together to discuss books or to win prizes for reading books.

Tutoring Programs – Drop-in, after school tutoring programs are available in many public libraries for middle and high school students. Other libraries have “Homework Centers” where students can gather to do their homework among the resources they may need. Libraries that offer such services: Oakland Public Library, California; Houston Public Library, Texas

Employment Programs – These include job skills workshops, mentoring, and community volunteering. Many libraries sponsor teen clubs that explore different jobs or careers by taking field trips or inviting representatives to the library to speak to a group. Libraries that offer such programs: Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County, North Carolina; Chicago Public Library, Illinois

Recreational Programs – One of the most popular type of recreational program offered by public libraries for YAs is the Poetry Night in which YAs are invited to read their original poetry among their peers while drinking cappuccino or munching on pizza. Some libraries have incorporated swing music and dancing into their Poetry Nights. Other recreational programs highlight culture, art, or other interests of YAs. Libraries that offer such programs: Seattle Public Library, Washington; Richmond County Public Library, South Carolina

If your library does not offer these service, get involved by speaking to the YA librarian. Let your requests be known, and they just may come true.

The Future

YA librarians are encouraging YAs to get involved in their library and their community, and as more YAs become aware of the services potentially available to them, such services will increase and become more innovative. The trend for YA collections to include more graphic novels will no doubt extend to include zines, which are often published by and for teenagers or young adults, or other materials that may not currently be available.

References:

Adams, Debra Lynn. "Where No Young Adult Services Have Gone Before: The Diary of a Startup YA Librarian." Voice of Youth Advocates 22 (3), 168-71

Machado, Julie and Barbara Lentz, Rachel Wallace, and Sharon Honig-Bear. "A Survey of Best Practices in Youth Services around the Country: A View from One Library." Journal of Youth